Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries

Creator

Charles and Elizabeth Peck

Title

Peck Collection of Northwest Coast Indian Life

ID

Cage 671

Date [inclusive]

1958-2000

Extent

15.0 Linear feet

Abstract

The Peck collection documents cultural traditions and customs of Native American people of the Washington coast. It consists of sound recordings (cassettes, reels and records) of oral interviews, including songs; slides and photographs; field notes; transcriptions; manuscripts; and correspondence. The bulk of the collection documents the Quileute people from 1969 to 1979, with some material related to the Makah, Quinault, and other coastal peoples.

Biographical/Historical note

Charles Peck was born May 22, 1914, in Hazard, Kentucky. He graduated from West Virginia University School of Forestry in 1939 and received a master's degree in public administration and economics from the University of Colorado in 1963. In 1967 he joined the Agricultural Extension Service at Washington State University as an Information Specialist. He served as a county extension agent for WSU in Cowlitz, Mason and Spokane counties. In 1970 he produced a series of photographs expressing the meaning of responsible land use management, with the Queets River basin serving as the site for his study.

Elizabeth (Tuckwiller) Peck was born in 1918. She graduated from West Virginia University with an A.B. in Music Education in 1939. In April of 1970 Charles and Elizabeth moved to Queets, Washington, for a planned six-month sabbatical leave. Their six-month sojourn lasted 17 years. As Charles said:

Little did we know that the central issue of the sabbatical would swiftly gravitate to trying to develop a comfortable and lasting rapport with the Quinault Indians of Queets, and to learn something of their culture. We were to find such work often sobering and difficult, but always exciting. We were to find trust developing slowly. But finally were able to make friends with the generous and gifted people.

While in Queets they lived among the Pacific coast Native American tribes of Washington state, documenting and recording their history and music. Elizabeth's musical interests helped ease fears among tribal elders that their musical heritage would, in short order, become irretrievably lost: she preserved and documented some of this heritage in hundreds of hours of recorded material and in the work she did for her master's thesis, "Songs of the Bogachiel." There she attempted to understand the power of a family song from a Quileute point of view, focusing on the role of song ownership.

She received her master's degree in 1973 from Washington State University Department of Music. Elizabeth also taught at the Queets-Clearwater school and was an avid seamstress.

Charles photographed a variety of subjects, but he especially enjoyed photographing Indian children. He published some of those photos in an ABC book for children. His photos have been displayed throughout the Northwest, including Portland and Seattle. In addition to his photography he became known on the reservation for his drum-making skills and as an avid fisherman.

Scope and Contents note

The Peck collection consists of sound recordings (cassettes, reels and records), slides and photographs, field notes, transcriptions, manuscripts, and correspondence. The photographs include photos of Indian people, their activities, and the environmental features of their tribal regions. The bulk of the collection documents the Quileute people from 1969 to 1979, when, according to Peck, "the last vestiges of their culture were disappearing."

The tapes in Series I are arranged alphabetically by person or topic and subsequently according to the code used by Elizabeth Peck to identify the tapes. Explanatory notes and transcriptions of the tapes are often included. Here is an example of the code used by Ms. Peck: M.W. -T1-S1ÀS2 - Aug. 4, 1971 - M3 3/4 - Qts@Qts - ETP. The first letters are the initials or symbol given to the person taped. The "T1" stands for tape (reel) number one. The letter "C" in this position would indicate a cassette. "S1" and "S2" indicates that there is recorded material on both side one and side two. Following is the date when the recording took place. The speed at which the tape plays is indicated first by an "M" followed by the speed. The letters prior to the "@" symbol indicate where the person being taped is from and the letters following the "@" symbol indicate where the recording was made. In the example given, Mary Williams is from Queets and the recording was taped at Queets. The last set of letters represents who made the recording (in nearly every case this is Elizabeth T. Peck).

The Phonograph Disc Recording series contains four LP recordings and relevant notes.

The Reference Essays and Articles series is arranged alphabetically by author or subject and includes photocopied excerpts of articles on Indian culture as well as relevant correspondence and notes.

The General series contains a bound copy of Elizabeth's thesis and research materials (notes, rough drafts, interviews, articles, and song information). Also included are newspaper clippings, correspondence files, and information about Indian culture and activities.

The Teaching Materials series contains materials used by Elizabeth while teaching at the Queets-Clearwater school, including stories written by Charles. Additionally, it contains the scripts to the slide series put together by Charles.

The Environmental Material series includes a few articles on local vegetation as well as the land layout of the Peck acreage on the Hoh reservation.

The Diaries series consists of the diaries of Charles Peck from 1972-1985.

The Photography series is arranged into several sub-series: Slides taken by Charles Peck, Enlarged Color Photos, Photos by Date, Storyboard Photos and Texts, and General Photos. The storyboard photos and texts were originally on large cardboard posters made by school children; however, for preservation purposes they were removed. In some instances both the proofs and negatives and/or contact sheets exist, although occasionally only one of these is extant.

Publication Information

Conditions Governing Access note

The Collection is open for research use.

Immediate Source of Acquisition note

Charles and Elizabeth Peck gave their papers to Washington State University Libraries in three installments in February and September of 1989 and in April of 1990. Anna S. Vogt processed the collection in the summer of 1999. Fifty-four books and one box of gardening materials were separated from this collection. In 2001, Elizabeth Peck donated additional photographs, papers, and artifacts to the collection.

Processing Information note

The photographs and papers were added at the end of the collection by Francesca Pena under the supervision of Trevor Bond, Special Collections Librarian, and the artifacts (primarily drums and woven baskets) were processed separately as Cage 671a.

Scope and Contents note

Tape of Beatrice Black and Mary Fisher Williams at Black's home. Black was from La Push, WA and at the time of the taping lived in Taholah WA. Williams was from Hoh, WA., but at the time lived in Queets, WA. Both women speak Quileute language

1

4

Beatrice Black: BB-T2-S1-Apr. 28, 1972 - QH@Taholah - M3 3/4 - ETP

Scope and Contents note

Tape of Black and Mary Fisher Williams at Black's Taholah home

1

5

Beatrice Black, BB-T3-S1:S2-May 15, 1972-Qute@Taholah-M3 3/4-ETP

Scope and Contents note

Tape of Black and Mary Fisher Williams at Black's Taholah home. Conversation is about early everyday uses of Quileute Indian songs

Bowchop, Lee, and Pullen: Quileute song sung by three different generations: Helen Sailto Lee, Harry Bowchop, and Cecil Pullen transcription and ETP notes

1

9

Bowchop, Lee, Pullen: HBO, HL, CP-C1-Nov. 11, 1971 - NB@Q-ETP

Scope and Contents note

Three versions of "Hó-i-ya" of the Ward family, La Push

1

10

Bowchop, Harry, Nov. 11, 1971. Bowchop sings a Quileute Shlahal song. With him was his wife Frances, a Quinault who has lived in Queets, WA

1

11

Sherrill Carlson, "Paging People with Peg" radio show (aired Feb. 20, 1973 from Pullman, WA) where Carlson is interviewed about the Northwest Coast Indians ABC book that she produced in conjunction with the photography of Charles K. Peck in 1972

Leila Fisher, L.F.-T5-S1 - Feb. 1, 1972-HR@HR-M1 7/8- ETP (master) Discussion with Fisher about the problems of the Hoh Reservation. She is on the Education Committee, Hoh Indian Reservation, Forks, WA

2

4

Leila Fisher, L.F.-T6-S1:S2 - Feb. 8, 1972-HR@HR-M1 7/8- ETP (master)

Scope and Contents note

Side 1: Includes permission and intent of using Fisher's songs. Excellent discussions of culture, use of songs and family heritage.

Scope and Contents note

Side 1: Leila discusses Quileute songs

2

15

Leila Fisher, L.P.F.-T17-S1:S2- Nov. 26, 1972-HR@HR-M1 7/8- ETP

Scope and Contents note

Side 1 and 2: Leila sings 2 songs, then tells about the Bogachiel and its relationship to other Quileute groups. Also her life on the river, location of homes, fish traps, Indian words for the fish. Peck and Fisher discuss the title for Peck's thesis, Herb Fisher tells a story, Leila sings three songs

2

16

Leila Fisher, L.F.-T18-S1:S2- Jan. 3, 1973-HR@HR-M1 7/8- ETP (master)

Scope and Contents note

Side 1: Discussion of ethics of song use and purchasing songs. Leila sings 7 songs.

Side 2: Discussion of ages of family members, meanings of songs, and the big party Georg Charlen gave in Tokeland, WA

Scope and Contents note

Side 1: Leila explains Elk Society and sings relevant songs, discusses the connection of old medicine songs with Shaker songs and faith...

Side 2: Leila sings Alice Jackson's Love Song and tells about Hoh River Blonde history

2

19

Leila Fisher, L.F.-T21-S1:S2- May 9, 1973, 1973-HR@HR-M1 7/8- ETP

Scope and Contents note

Side 1 and 2: Leila and Herbert Fisher tell about huge party they gave on May 6, 1973

2

20

Leila Fisher, notes with the cassette tapes

3

1

Leila Fisher, L.F.-T22- Dec. 1972-M3 3/4- ETP Excerpts from Leila Fisher's tapes #1-7. E. Peck made this tape for Fisher family use. It includes most of Leila's songs and comments in a useful way. One copy was sent to a daughter, Mary Kay Leitka, Hoh River and another to a son, John Sailto, Forks, WA. CD Audio version of recordings added to collection on March 8th, 2004.

Scope and Contents note

Side 1: Sally Pope, minister of Taholah Indian Shaker Church. This was recorded at a "Shake" held in Queets, 1969. Warren Lee, then minister of the Queets Shaker Church, made the original. He gave E. Peck permission to make this copy

Scope and Contents note

Helma Ward sings song in Makah Indian way and presents a mask carved by her son

Michael Hunter, age 14. (NOT TO BE DUPLICATED)

5

16

Helma Ward, HW - T2-S1- July 26, 1972 - Makah@Queets-M3 3/4-ETP HW - C1-S1- July 26, 1972 - Makah@Queets-M3 3/4-ETP Edited version of HW - T1 where E. Peck has added her own report of the occasion. Also copied on to cassette. (NOT TO BE DUPLICATED)

5

17

Helma Ward, Hunter Party, HW - T1- Apr. 12, 1976

Scope and Contents note

N.B@N.B-M1 7/8-ETP

General note

(NOT TO BE DUPLICATED)

5

18

Helma Ward, Hunter Party, HW - T2- Apr. 12, 1976

Scope and Contents note

- N.B@N.B-M1 7/8-ETP

General note

(NOT TO BE DUPLICATED)

5

19

Helma Ward, Hunter Party, HW - T3- Apr. 12, 1976

Scope and Contents note

- N.B@N.B-M1 7/8-ETP

General note

(NOT TO BE DUPLICATED)

5

20

Mary Williams, Notes

5

21

Mary Williams, MW - T1 - S1- July 13, 1971-Q@Q - M1 7/8-ETP (master)

Scope and Contents note

Side 1: Recorded in the Peck's Queets home, George Jackson, C. Peck and M.Williams were listening to Harry Sam's story with comments

5

22

Mary Williams, MW - T2 - S1- Aug. 6, 1971-QTs@QTs - M3 3/4-ETP

Scope and Contents note

Side 1: Williams sings three family Indian songs and two of her personal Shaker songs

5

23

Mary Williams, MW - T3 - S1- Aug. 6, 1971-Q@Q - M3 3/4-ETP

Scope and Contents note

Side 1: (continuation of MW-T2)

5

24

Mary Williams, MW - T4 - S1- Sept. 22, 1971-Q@Q - M3 3/4-ETP

Scope and Contents note

Side 1: discussion of whalebone splitter, clam digging, songs

6

1

Mary Williams, MW - T5 - S1- Dec. 3, 1971-Hoh@Q - M3 3/4-ETP (master)

Scope and Contents note

Side 1: E. Peck interviews Williams in order to record her stories of life in Hoh Village

Kolstee, Anton Frederik - notes on his Ph.D. Dissertation entitled "To Impersonate the Supernatural: Music and Ceremony of the Bella Bella/Heiltsuk"

8

20

Lomax, Alan also Halpert (quoted in article in "Conference Character and State of Studies in Folklore," pp. 507-510

8

21

Merriman, Alan P., "The Selection of Recording Equipment for Field Use," pp. 5-9

8

22

Mohling, Virginia, "Twana Spirit Songs," thesis 1957

8

23

Nettl, Bruno, "North American Indian Musical Styles," American Folklore Society, Philadelphia, 1954., correspondence from Nettl, ETP notes, observations and outline by ETP on the Place of Quileute music in a style area

8

24

Olsen, Loran - correspondence materials by and about Olsen

8

25

Olsen, Ronald - ETP notes

8

26

Pettittt, George A., photocopied excerpts from "Primitive Education in North America," University of California

Scope and Contents note

Publications in American Arch. and Ethn., 1946., ETP notes on "Quileutes of LaPush," correspondence with Pettittt

Swan, James G., "The Surf-Smelt of the Northwest Coast, and the Method of Taking Them by the Quileute Indians, West Coast of Washington Territory, " Proceedings of United States National Museum, pp. 43-46

Makah - newspaper clipping: "Indians get Look at Their History, " by Hill Williams,
The Seattle Times Sunday, July 18, 1971

9

18

Mormon - brochure from the Mormon church entitled, "Who Are You?" intended for a Native audience that advances that the Book of Mormon is "the best source of information which is true and which tells us who you are, where you come from, and what is to become of you"

Duane Scott (l) and Stan Johnson (r) with field corn that Johnson grew in the Skokomish Valley, Mason Co. WA. Scott was the local Soil Conservation Service rep. 1958 b/w negatives

18

1-5

4-H forestry training, Camp Panhandle 4-H camp 1959 b/w negatives

18

2-1

Field meeting of foresters at the Dennyall Seed Orchard, U.S. Forest Service, in the Olympic National Forest, near Shelton, WA. Virgil Allen, right, Shelton, a Forest Service specialist, demonstrates method of grafting Douglas fir scion to root-stock. Man with pipe is Mike Webster, State Forester, Dept. of Natural Resources, State of Washington, Olympia. Other members of the photo, unknown. circa 1960 b/w negative

Scope and Contents note

From left, Bob Whitmarsh and Bob Cleveland, both then living in the Skokomish Valley, Mason Co., WA. The logger in background, looking up, unknown. Whitmarsh and the man looking up keep watch in case a slab of bark should shell off the tree and fall onto the faller operating the chain saw, a deadly prospect. (2 b/w prints and negative)

18

5-1

Bus station at Pullman, WA Jan. 1966 b/w negatives

18

6-1

C.K. Peck fishing for steelhead on Snake River, at Castle Rock, near Bishop, October 1967 or 1968. 1967 or 1968 4.0 b/w prints

Charles and Elizabeth Peck's Cabin in Queets, behind the General Store. 1972

Scope and Contents note

"Verle and Lillian Olmstead owned the store and a motel behind it. They also owned the cabin and rented to us for $90.00/mo. We lived here for three years: 1970-73. Note net for dipping surf smelts leaning against the house. (2 prints and negatives)

18

18-4

Peter and Sue Kalama (cousins) Queets 1972 2.0 prints and negatives

18

19-1

Sue Kalama, Queets 1972 one print with negatives

18

19-2

Mary Williams tearing rags for tying bundles of beargrass that she picked in Fishers Prairie, Quinault Indian Reservation, Queets Summer 1972 one print

18

20-1

Susie Jackson with beargrass that was picked in Fishers Prairie, Quinault Indian Reservation 1972 two prints

Queets Boys stalking elk in the Quinn Homestead, Olympic National Park. They are playing, trying to see how close they can come to a large herd of elk. The herd was made up of about sixty animals. 1972 negatives

18

21-2

Harry Sam, Queets, Quinault Indian, making gill net in front of his home at Queets (negatives 13-18), scenes along the Queets River Corridor, Olympic National Park (one print and negatives) circa 1973

Scope and Contents note

The brothers were authentic real, old time sourdoughs. Cal was an expert marksman with his revolver, drawing in a flash and breaking every beer bottle set up on stumps around his show in the woods. He turned in his tracks as he pulled the trigger, shooting with the pistol held just above his belt, pointing it, getting off shots about two seconds apart. Frank was almost as handy with the revolver but he liked to brag on Cal's, and took pride in it. (5 prints and negatives)

General Photos

Box

Folder

Cutting out a drum head from a fresh deer rawhide.

Scope and Contents note

George Jackson, Queets, cuts the rawhide with kitchen scissors. The hide was "fisted" off the deer carcass to produce a skin with little or no flesh or fat attached. The skin was then put in a tub of water for several days until the hair slipped easily. When the hair slipped easily, the hide was thrown over a smooth pole and both sides scraped with a dull butcher knife. When the hair is removed, and all the excess tissue is scraped from the flesh side of the hide, the resulting rawhide is as smooth and supple as velvet. It is then easily applied to the drum frame. (one print and negatives)

18

51

George Jackson, Queets, putting head of fresh deer rawhide on drum frame.

Scope and Contents note

He uses elk rawhide for lacing. The drum frame is steam bent hoop of western red cedar (Tsuja plicata). The drum frame stave was split from a second growth log about eight inches in diameter and six feet long. (one print and negative)

18

51

George Jackson, Queets, singing with drum that was made from materials gathered near his home on the Quinault Reservation, WA (print and negative)

Scope and Contents note

Mrs. Kelly is a Quinault Indian. She weaves cat-tail baskets and sells them to tourists. Although she is 90 she is considered one of the expert weavers in the region (print and negative)

18

51

Charlotte Kalama, Queets, basket weaving in her home. She weaves with materials gathered near her Queets home, Quinault Indian Reservation. (print and negative)

18

51

Diane Sailto and niece Darla Obi picking straw, one of the important basket-weaving materials of the northwest.

Scope and Contents note

Pictured here are Diane Sailto, Taholah, WA (seated) and niece, Darla Obi, Queets, WA, picking straw near Queets on the Quinault Indian Reservation. Straw has several local names: beargrass, basketgrass, Indian grass. (print and negative)

18

51

Making Canoes. Logs are first split in half.

Scope and Contents note

The design of the canoe is then marked out on the half logs by the expert builders who always have an audience of family and friends. Queets Village, WA (print and negative)

18

51

Frank Charles, Queets, tying up his canoe below the Quinault

Scope and Contents note

Tribal fish house on the Queets River. Charles is bringing in a canoe load of salmon that he has gill netted in the Queets River. He will be paid cash for his fish. The dugout canoes are made from a log of western red cedar (Tsuja plicata). The canoes pictured are the river work canoes. Some have been in service for more than 50 years. (print and negative)

18

51

Rick Obi working with hand adz, an ancient type tool of the northwest Indians.

Scope and Contents note

Shown here are Rick Obi, hollowing out his new canoe with the hand adz; daughter, Darla, helps by holding "centering cord" out of his way. It takes an expert about three weeks of hard and constant work to build a canoe. (print and negative)

18

51

The old and the new.

Scope and Contents note

A canoe and a skiff of salmon tied up in the Queets River, below the Quinault Tribal fish house. Rick Obi, in skiff, loading salmon in the "fish bucket." The fish will be hoisted up to the scales where they will be weighed. The modern skiffs are rapidly replacing the classic river work canoes. But some of the Indian fishermen still make canoes. (print and negative)

18

51

Type of "tourist" and/or trade basket woven by the weavers of the Olympic Peninsula Region, WA.

Scope and Contents note

Thunderbird and whale designs are popular with the weavers. (print and negative)